Legislator sued for calling Turkey leader 'fascist dictator'

Legislator sued for calling Turkey leader 'fascist dictator'

Legislator sued for calling Turkey leader 'fascist dictator'

Oct. 31, 2017

https://www.apnews.com/45a83f6d0fd94fe58b601e5c2aa6b41f

Link copied!

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish state television says a lawyer for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has filed a criminal complaint against an opposition legislator for calling Turkey's leader a "fascist dictator."

Lawmaker Bulent Tezcan, who is the spokesman for the main opposition party, made the comments in a town in northwest Turkey on Monday, to support a local mayor who was questioned by authorities for reportedly calling Erdogan a "dictator."

TRT television says Erdogan's lawyer filed a complaint on Tuesday, accusing Tezcan of insulting the president — a crime that is punishable by up to four years in prison.

Erdogan has filed similar complaints against close to 2,000 people before withdrawing them after last year's failed coup as a goodwill gesture.